Gas administration apparatus



March 1965 H. A, VON PECHMANN GAS ADMINISTRATION APPARATUS Filed Sept. 29, 1961 FIG. 3.

FIG. 5.

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INVENTOR l/f/f/Z 4. V0 FEM/fill!!! m x KW United States Patent ration of Nevada Filed Sept. 29, 1961, Ser. No. 141,729 Claims. (Cl. 128-206) This invention relates to an apparatus for administering gases to a patient, and particularly to an improved structure for holding a nasal cannula or a gas administration mask in its proper place on the face of a patient.

Gas administration devices now in use are commonly held on the patients head by means of an elastic strap which passes behind the patients head. Such straps become soiled, easily twisted, lose their elasticity when used for some time, and tend to tear out of the plastic to which they are attached. Moreover, considerable labor is required to properly attach the strap to the gas administration device.

Spectacle-type supports have also been used for holding gas administration devices on a patients face. However, such supports are even more expensive than elastic straps, are uncomfortable to prone patients and interfere with the wearing of eye glasses. Also, proper adjustment of the spectacle-type supports to various sizes and shapes of faces requires considerable care and effort.

It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide a gas administration device which is simple, inexpensive, and comfortable to wear.

A further object of the invention is to provide a gas administration device having an improved means for holding the device in position on a patients face.

A further object of the invention is to provide a gas administration device having an easily adjustable support means.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a gas administration device which will maintain a clean, attractive appearance during prolonged use.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description of the examples given in conjunction with the drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation showing a nasal cannula embodying the features of the present invention as applied to the face of a patient;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary view on the line 2r-2 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged, elevational view of the end section 31 shown in FIGURE 2 but before assembly;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary, sectional view on the line 44 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged, elevational view similar to FIGURE 3, but showing a modification; and

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged, top plan view similar to FIGURE 2, but showing the modification of FIGURE 5.

As shown in the drawings, my gas administration device has a gas supply tube 11 having a distal end 12 and a proximal end 13. The proximal supply tube end 13 telescopes into one side of a nose piece 14 while a flexible extension 15 projects from the opposite side thereof. Flexible extension 15 passes above the patients ear and the distal end 16 of said extension attaches to gas supply tube 11 so as to form a looped supply tube portion 17, the length of which can be adjusted by sliding the distal extension end 16 along supply tube 11.

The distal supply tube end 12 has a connector 22 for convenient attachment to a source of oxygen or other gas which is conducted by the longitudinal passage 21 to nose piece 14 or other gas administration fitment.

Nose piece 14 is preferably molded of a soft plastic material which can be easily cemented to supply tube 11 and flexible extension 15. Plasticized, flexible polyvinyl chloride and mixtures of plasticized, flexible polyvinyl chloride with polyvinyl acetate are particularly suitable. Nose piece 14 has a tubular body which defines an axial passage 24. Nostril tubes 25 and 26 project from the tubular body and are curved, spaced, and otherwise adapted to fit into the nostrils of a patient. Projections 27, 28, extend from the tubular body on the side opposite nostril tubes 25, 26 so as to rest against the patients upper lip to help hold the nostril tubes 25, 26 in place.

Flexible extension 15 is preferably tubular in shape, in which case distal end 16 is flattened and heat sealed to provide a solid, flexible, flat, end section 31. The flat, end section 31 should be formed in a vertical plane; that is, it should lie in a plane generally perpendicular to the plane of the loop formed by extension 15, nose piece 14, and supply tube portion 17. Preferably, it is also aligned with the inside wall 32 of extension 15; that is, with the wall which lies against the patients head. End section 31 is wider than supply tube 11 and preferably wider than tubular extension 15. Two round holes 33 and 34 are provided at spaced intervals in end section 31, thus dividing said section into a proximal portion 39, a medial portion 35, and a distal portion or tab 36. The diameter of these holes is approximately equal to the outer diameter of supply tube 11.

As shown in FIGURE 2, gas supply tube 11 passes from nose piece 14 through the distal hole 33 and then through the proximal hole 34. The proximal end portion 39 lies along the inner surface of supply tube 11 and the medial end portion 35 lies along the outer surface of supply tube 11. The distal end portion or tab 36 also lies along the inner surface of supply tube 11 and is wedged between tube 11 and the patients head. Thus, tension on tubular extension 15 tends to increase the distance between holes 33 and 34 and thereby increases the grip of end section 31 on supply tube 11. However, the position of end section 31 can easily be changed by pulling the sides of loop 35 together and then sliding tube 11 through holes 33, 34.

Supply tube 11 and flexible extension 15 can obviously be made of a number of plastic materials. However, I have found that plasticized polyvinyl chloride or polyvinyl chloride-polyvinyl acetate mixtures are preferable, while polyethylene gives inferior results. The reason for this is that some tendency for end section 31 to block or hang to tube 11 greatly aids in holding the administration device in place on a patients face and preventing slippage of end section 31 along tube 11.

As shown in FIGURES 5 and 6, a third hole 37 can be provided in flattened section 31a and spaced from hole 34a by loop 3611. This provides a tab 38 which extends on the side of supply tube 11a opposite the patients head and is thereby more accessible for adjustment by the operator. The additional gripping action of hole 37 on supply tube 11 insures even firmer attachment of the apparatus to the patients head. Here again, however, section 36a lies against the patients head and resists move ment of end section 31a when flexible extension 15a is under tension.

To place a gas administration device on a patients face the looped supply tube portion 17 is first made longei than necessary. This is accomplished by holding suppl tube portion 17 in one hand and pushing the distal en section 36 of extension 15 toward the proximal end sectioi 39 with the other hand. This causes the medial end sec tion 35 to bend sharply and tab 31 can be easily slid alon tube 11.

The gas administration device is then placed over th patients head and the nose piece 14 moved into positio with tubes 25 and 26 extending into the patients nostril The looped supply tube portion 17 and the flexible extei sion 15 are then passed over the patients ears, as show in FIGURE 1, and held there by a slight tension applied to supply tube 11 and flexible extension 15.

End section 31 is then slid down the supply tube 11 until it contacts the. patients head. This is easily accomplished by holding supply tube 11 in one hand and urging proximal end section 39 toward the distal end section 36. Again the medial end section 35 is bent sharply and end section 31 moves freely along supply tube 11. When the administration device is thus tightened on a patients head, it may be secured there by pulling distal end section 36 away from the proximal end section 39. This flattens the bend in the medial end section 35 and positions the distal end section 36 flat against supply tube portion 17 and between the patients head and the supply tube portion. The administration device is easily removed by merely urging the distal end section 36 toward the proximal end section 39, lengthening the looped supply portion 17 and lifting the device off of the patients head.

It will be noted from the foregoing description that this gas administration device is made completely of plastic, and therefore maintains a clean, attractive .appearance even after prolonged use. Also, the device has no ferrules, pins, or other hard or rigid fitments and is comfortable to wear, even when the patient is confined to a prone position. This is particularly important for a nasal cannula, which is frequently used because it is more comfortable and less confining than a mask or tent.

If desired, the cannula may be worn over a patients spectacles. Adjustment of the cannula is conveniently made at the side of the head by making tubular extension 15 longer than the looped supply tube portion 17. Since the back of the patients head often rests against the bed or back of a chair, this frequently allows the adjustment to be made without disturbing the patient.

For the purpose of illustration, this gas administration device has been described as a nasal cannula. However it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that a gas administration mask can be substituted for nose piece 14. Such masks are well known in the art and a particularly appropriate mask for use with this invention is shown in United States Patent No. 2,675,803. Other changes and modifications may also be made in the illustrated examples without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention, as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A gas administration device comprising: a supply tube; a gas administration fitment, one end of which is attached to one end of the supply tube; a flexible exteniion attached to the opposite end of the fitment; a flexible lat section at the distal end of said extension; at least two roles in said flat section, said holes being longitudinally paced from each other by a portion of the flat section, vhich holes each have a diameter approximately equal the supply tube diameter; a portion of the supply tube 'assing from the gas administration fitment through the istal hole of the flat extension section, then through the djacent hole, the portion of the flat section between said oles being located along the outside surface of the supply lbe portion; and a tab on said flexible flat section distal the distal hole and adapted to lie between the supply lbe portion and the patients head.

2. A gas administration device as set forth in claim 1 herein the flexible extension is tubular in shape and has 1 inner surface facing in the direction of the gas supply be; and the flattened end section is aligned with and :tends longitudinally beyond said inner surface.

3. A gas administration device as set forth in claim 1 ierein the gas administration fitment is a nasal cannula ving a pair of spaced nostril tubes.

4. A gas administration device comprising: a gas supply 3e; a gas administration fitment, one end of which is ached to one end of the supply tube; a flexible extenn attached to the end of the fitment opposite the supply )e; a flexible, flat section at the distal end of said exision; at least three holes in said flat section spaced longitudinally from each other, said holes having diameters approximately equal to the gas supply tube diameter; a portion of the gas supply tube passing from the direction of the fitment through the distalhole, then successively through the second and third holes in the fiat section of the extension; the portion of the flat section between the second and third holes being located on the outer surface of the supply tube portion; a flexible portion of the flat section between the distal and third holes being positioned on the inner surface of the supply tube portion, adapted to lie between the patients head and the supply tube portion and bent to direct the flat section to the outer surface of the supply tube portion; and a tab distal to the distal hole and positioned adjacent the outer surface of the supply tube portion.

5. A gas administration device comprising: an elongated, flexible, gas supply tube having a longitudinal gas passage, a distal end and a proximal end; means on the distal end of the supply tube for connection to a source of gas; a gas administration fitment joined at one side to the proximal end of the gas supply tube, said fitment including a tubular body having a longitudinal passage communicating with the supply tube passage, nostril tubes adapted to direct gas into the nasal passages of a patient, and means projecting from the side of the body opposite said nostril tubes, said means adapted to rest against the upper lip of a patient to prevent displacement of the nostril tubes by rotation of the body; a flexible extension attached to the side of the gas administration fitment opposite the supply tube; a flexible flat section on the distal end of said extension, said flat section having a width greater than the diameter of the supply tube; at least two holes in said flat section, said holes being longitudinally spaced from each other by a portion of the flat section and having diameters approximately the same as the diameter of the gas supply tube; a portion of the gas supply tube passing from the fitment through the distal hole of the flat section, then through the adjacent hole; a portion of the flat section adjacent the tubular extension lying along the inner surface of the supply tube and adapted to lie between the supply tube and the patients head; a second portion of the flat section between the holes lying along the outer surface of the supply tube; and a tab distal to the distal hole lying along the inner surface of the supply tube, and adapted to lie between the supply tube and the patients head 6. In a gas administration device having a gas supply tube, a nasal cannula fitment attached to and communicating with one end of the gas supply tube, and a flexible, tubular extension having one end attached to the side of the nasal cannula fitment opposite the gas supply tube, the improvement comprising: a flexible flattened end section at an opposite end of said tubular extension; at least two longitudinally spaced holes passing through said flattened end section, each of these holes having a diameter approximately equal to the gas supply tube diameter; and a portion of the gas supply tube threaded through said holes and passing from the direction of the fitment through the distal hole, then through the adjacent hole toward a source of gas.

7. A gas administration apparatus comprising: a gas supply tube;

of said tube for directing gas into the nasal passages of a patient; a flexible extension attached at one end to said gas administration means and having at an opposite end a flexible, fiat, distal end section; with two longitudinally spaced holes, each of which has a diameter approximately equal to the gas supply tube diameter; and a portion of the gas supply tube passing successively through both of said holes to provide a slideable attachment of the end section to the gas supply tube and thereby provide a looped supply tube portion of adjustable length.

8. A gas administration device as set forth in claim 7 wherein the portion of the end section between the holes is located along the outer surface of the portion of the gas supply tube, the other portion of the end section adjacent the proximal hole is located along the inner surface of the portion of the gas supply tube, and the portion of the end section distal to the distal hole provides a flat end tab adapted to lie between the portion of the gas supply tube and the patients head.

9. A gas administration apparatus as set forth in claim 7 wherein the proximal part of the supply tube portion passes through the distal hole of the extension end section, and the distal part of the supply tube portion passes through the second hole.

10. A gas administration apparatus comprising: a first elongated tube; administration means at one end of said first elongated tube adapted to direct gas into the nasal passages of a patient; a second elongated tube extending from said administration means; a flexible, flat distal end section on said second tube; two longitudinally spaced holes in said end section, each hole having a diameter approximately equal to the first elongated tube diameter;

6 a portion of the first elongated tube passing successively through said holes to provide a slideable connection of the end section on the gas supply tube; and a looped tube portion of adjustable length, said looped tube portion including the second elongated tube, the administration means, and a portion of the first elongated tube.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,499,650 3/50 Kaslow l28206 2,693,800 11/54 Caldwell 128206 2,735,432 2/56 Hudson 128-348 2,931,358 4/60 Sheridan l28206 3,046,984 7/62 Eby 128-214 FOREIGN PATENTS 618,570 2/49 Great Britain.

LOUIS R. PRINCE, Primary Examiner.

20 ADELE M. EAGER, Examiner. 

1. A GAS ADMINISTRATION DEVICE COMPRISING: A SUPPLY TUBE; A GAS ADMINISTRATION FITMENT, ONE END OF WHICH IS ATTACHED TO ONE END OF THE SUPPLY TUBE; A FLEXIBLE EXTENSION ATTACHED TO THE OPPOSITE END OF THE FITMENT; A FLEXIBLE FLAT SECTION AT THE DISTAL END OF SAID EXTENSION; AT LEAST TWO HOLES IN SAID FLAT SECTION, SAID HOLES BEING LONGITUDINALLY SPACED FROM EACH OTHER BY A PORTION OF THE FLAT SECTION, WHICH HOLES EACH HAVE A DIAMETER APPROXIMATELY EQUAL TO THE SUPPLY TUBE DIAMETER; A PORTION OF THE SUPPLY TUBE PASSING FROM THE GAS ADMINISTRATION FITMENT THROUGH THE DISTAL HOLE OF THE FLAT EXTENSION SECTION, THEN THROUGH THE ADJACENT HOLE, THE PORTION OF THE FLAT SECTION BETWEEN SAID HOLES BEING LOCATED ALONG THE OUTSIDE SURFACE OF THE SUPPLY TUBE PORTION; AND A TAB ON SAID FLEXIBLE FLAT SECTION DISTAL TO THE DISTAL HOLE ADAPTED TO LIE BETWEEN THE SUPPLY TUBE PORTION AND THE PATIENT''S HEAD. 